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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheetl. E. KUEGHLE.

MACHINE FOR TWISTING METAL STRIPS.

No. 483,357. Patented Sept. 2'7, 1 892.

we -new UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

EDUARD KUEOHLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE OTIS BROTHERS & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

.- MACHINE FOR TWISTING METAL STRIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,357, dated September 27, 1892.

Application filed February 20, 1892. serial No. 422,198. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, EDUARD KUEcHLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Twisting Metal Strips, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for twisting strips for metal lattice-work, and especially to provide a simple and eflicient machine by which strips may be formed having fiat portions adapted to engage when the strips are woven together and twisted portions between the same; and the invention consists in various constructions and combinations of parts, all of which will be fully described in the following specification and pointed out in the claims annexed thereto.

For a full understanding of my invention a detailed description of the same will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is illustrated as embodied in constructions of the preferred form, and in which-- Figure 1 is an end view of a simple form of hand-operated machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the operation of twisting. Fig. 3 is longitudinal central section of the same. Fig. 4 is a section on the line w 00 of Fig. 3, look ing to the left. Fig. 5 is a section on the same line looking to the right. Fig. 6 shows my improved lattice-work.

Referring to said drawings, A is the baseframe of the machine, which may be of any suitable construction to support the parts. As shown, it consists of a base-plate provided with a longitudinal slot 10, in which are mounted frames B O D, conveying the different parts of the machine, these frames sliding in said slots independently of each other for adjustment and being held in position therein by set-screws 11. The frame B carries a sleeve 12, the bore of which is of a diameter substantially equal to or a little larger than the width of the strip to be twisted, so that the strip may be advanced through it readily, the sleeve forming a guide and support for the strip, and this sleeve carries one of the holders by which the strip is held during the twisting operation, this holder being formed by a plate 13, secured to the end of the 5 5 sleeve 12 and provided with a slot 1 of a width substantially the same as the thickness of the strip to be twisted. The sleeve 12 is mounted to rotate in bearings in the frame B and is provided with a gear 14:, by which it may be rotated to actuate the holder for twisting the strip.

For the purpose of rotating the sleeve 12 any suitable mechanism may be employed; bntI have shown a simple construction, which 6 5. is preferably used, in which the gear 14 meshes with a gear 16, carried bya shaft 17 mounted in hearings in the frame 13 and rotated by means of a ratchet-wheel 18 on the shaft and a spring-pressed pawl 19, engaging said ratch- 7o et-wheel and carried by a handle 20, mounted loosely on the shaft, so as to be free to oscillate about the same, and held thereon by a sleeve 21, secured bya set-screw, as shown, or in any other suitable manner.

The gears 14 and 16 may be formed integral with the sleeve 12 and shaft 17, respectively, but are preferably removably mounted thereon by sleeves 15 22, secured by setscrews, as shown, or in any suitable manner, so that the sleeve 12 may readily be removed from its bearings for substitution of a sleeve of different diameter or having a holder adapted for strips of different diameter or thickness and that the gears may be removed 8 5 and other gears of difierent relative sizes be substituted therefor, thus varying the movement of the sleeve 12 relatively to that of the shaft 17. As shown, these gears are so proportioned that a half-rotation of the shaft 17 0 produces a full rotation of the sleeve 12 and a full single twist of the strip.

The frame O carries a sleeve 23, having a bore of sufficient diameter to allow the strip to be twisted to pass freely through it, and 5 this sleeve is preferably removably secured to the frame 0 by a set-screw, as shown, or otherwise, so that the sleeve may readily be removed and another of greater length or diameter of bore be substituted. For the pur- 10o pose of holding the strip outside the twist to be formed during the operation of twisting I prefer to. use a forked holder 2%, which consists in the simple form shown of a rod or bar of convenient shape and length to form a handle and which is provided with a fork 2 at one end, the slot of which is of substantially the same width as the thickness of the strip to be twisted. The width of this fork is preferably the same as that of the strip, so that each of the strips is held firmly in position by the engagement of both its edges with the twists of the engaging-strip when the strips are woven to form lattice-work.

The frame D carries a guide 25, which consists of a sleeve through which the twisted strip is passed and by which it'is' supported, this sleeve being shown as removably secured by means of set-screws, so that guides of larger or smaller diameter may be substituted in accordance with the width of the strips to be twisted. It will be understood, however, that this guide performs no function outside of supporting the strip in proper position and steadying it and that any suitable construction other than that shown may be used for this purpose.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The strip of metal a to be twisted is introduced through the sleeve 12 from the right,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the inner end being passed through the slot 1 in the plate 13 and through the sleeve 23, so as to project from the inner end of the latter sufliciently to be held by the forked holder 24.; The. handle of the holder 24; is now grasped with the left hand and the handle 20 is moved to the right in Fig. 1, so that the pawl 19 will engage the desired tooth of ratchet 18. Upon the movement of the handle 20 to the left in Fig.1 the,

shaft 17 and gear 16 will be rotated, and by the engagement of gears 16 14 the sleeve 12 will also be rotated. As the endsof the strip are held firmly parallel with each other by the forked holder 24.- and the holder 13 on sleeve 12, the strip will be twisted within the sleeve 23, as shown in Fig. 3. It is evident that this twist will be of a length equal to the sleeve 23 if the latter be placed close to the end of sleeve 12 and the forked holder 24 be held against the end of sleeve 23. The cylindrical form of the part 23, however, is not necessary but it maybe of any other form suitable to form a separator between the holder 13 and 24 and accurately determine the length of the twists. The cylindrical form is preferred,

however, as the holder 2 1 is thus supported on both sides of the strip and the twist thus formed at points exactly opposite. each other on the edges of the strip. By using separators of dilterent lengths in the frame C, therefore, the length of the twist may be varied,

the twists being accurately formed, so that all are of exactly the same length, which is necessary in order that the strips may be woven to form lattice-work. It is evident that the separator 23 may be omitted and the strip twisted; but it will be found difficult to form twists of uniform length. When a twist has been formed, the strip a, is advanced through the sleeve 23 at least the length of another strip, that is-so as to project through the sleeve 23 at least the full width of the forked holder 24. The holder isthen removed and replaced close against the sleeve 23, and the strip, if advanced too far, is drawn back until it is stopped by the engagement of the first twist formed with the holder. Thehandle 20 is then turned to the right in Fig. 1 and the operation repeated. As the strip is twisted the twisted portion is advanced into the sleeve 25, whereit is supported in proper position,so that it is held straight throughout its length. This is necessary in order that there may be no sagging of the strip outside of the holder 24 and sleeve 23, tending to prevent uniformity of the twists. In the construction shown, as above stated, the gears 16 let are as two to one, so that a half-rotation of the gear 16 produces a full rotation of the gear 14 and sleeve 12, and consequently a full single twist of the strip, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3-; but although this construction of strip having a full twist and flat portion of the same Width as the strip is preferred it will be understood that the machine may be changed so as to produce strips the twists in which are. less or more than a full twist. By the use of strips formed with flat portions of the width of the strip and with .a full twist or more between these flat portions, however, I am able tov produce an improved metal latticework, and this latticework and strips for use therein form parts of the present invention.

In weaving the strips together to form lattice-work it will be understood that the flat portions of the strips formed where the strip is held by the holder 24 are placed in engagement with each other, the Stripsbeing woven over and under, as shown in Fig. 6. By the use of strips having a flat portion of substantially the width of the stripand a full; twist or more between such portions a very strong construction of lattice-work is. secured without riveting, the strips being held firmly in position where they cross each other by the sharp bend of the strip caused by the full twist, the movement of one strip longitudinallyof the other being strips are readily woven the lattice-work.

It is evident that my invention isnot tobe limited to. the specific construction of themachine shown, as various modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art with.- out departing from my invention.

While I have shown a machine adapted to be be operated by hand, it is evident that means may readily be provided for applying power to operate, the. gear 1 6 and sleeve 12, if desired.

The metal stripsand lattice-work described herein form the subject-matter of another application, Serial No. 431,7 97, filed May 4:, 1892.

What I claim is-= prevented, while the, together in forming 1'. The combination, with a holder con structed to permit the free longitudinal movement of the untwisted portion of the strip to be twisted and means for rotating said holder, of a forked holder adapted to be placed upon and removed from the strip to be twisted while the latter is held by the rotary holder, whereby successive portions of the strip may be twisted without removing it from the rotary holder, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a holder constructed to permit the free longitudinal movement of the untwisted portion of the strip to be twisted and means for rotating said holder,

of a forked holder adapted to be placed upon and removed from the strip to be twisted while the latter is held by the rotary holder and consisting of a bar forming a handle and a fork engaging the strip to be twisted, whereby successive portions of the strip may be twisted without removing it from the rotary holder, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a holder constructed to permit the free longitudinal movement of the untwisted portion of the strip to be twisted and means for rotating said holder, of a forked holder adapted to be placed upon and removed from the strip to be twisted While the latter is held by the rotary holder and having its holding-surface longitudinally of the strip substantially equal to the width of the strip to be twisted, whereby successive portions of the strip may be twisted with untwisted portions of a length equal to the width of the strip between said twisted portions without removing the strip from the rotary holder, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with sleeve 12, carrying holder 13, and means for rotating said holder, of forked holder 24, adapted to be placed upon and removed from the strip while the latter is held by holder 13, and separator 23 between said holders, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with holder 13 and means for rotating said holder, of forked holder 24, adapted to be placed upon and removed from the strip while the latter is held by holder 13, adjustable frame 0, and removable separator 23, mounted in said frame between said holders, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with sleeve 12, mounted to rotate and carrying holder 13, of gear 14: on said sleeve, gear 16, engaging gear 14, shaft 17, carrying said gear 16 and ratchetwheel 18, rock-arm 20, carrying pawl 19, engaging said ratchet-wheel, and forked holder 24, adapted to be placed upon and removed from the strip while the latter is held by holder 13, substantially as described.

7. The combination of sleeve 12, forming a guide and support for the untwisted strip and carrying holder 13, means for rotating said sleeve, adjustable frame 0 and removable separator 23 in said frame, and guide 25 for the twisted strip, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDUARD KUEGIILE.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK SULTZERS, GUSTAV A. RUEMMLER. 

